Lock



Jan. 3, 1933. E. N.-JACOBI 1,893,142

LOCK

Filed Dec. 24, 1950 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN l/E N TOR EiWfi/"i AZ 1/5005] Br QY uu 714mm 5 A T TORNEY E. N. JACOB! Jan. 3, 1933.

LOCK

2 Sheets:sneet 2 Filed Dec 24. 1930 I IN l E N TOR Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE EDWARD N. JACOBI, F lviILWAUKEE, VJISGONSIN, ASSIGNOR. TO BRIGGS & STRA'ITON CORPORATION, OF I'JEILVIAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LOCK Application filed December 24, 1930.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in locks and refers more particularly to tumbler looks.

The majority of tumbler locks now in use may be divided into two well defined classes. In one the tumblers are round pins and in the other they are stamped from flat stock; and this invention is especially directed to the latter.

Heretofore it has been diflicult in flat tumbler type locks to obtain the strength necessary to meet the Insurance Underwriters strength test, and this invention therefore contemplates and has as one of its objects the provision of a flat tumbler type lock in which the arrangement of the tumblers and their construction, and the disposition of the metal of the cylinder or plug, is such that neither the tumblers nor the cylinder can be broken by any tool that can be applied when the lock is in its regular casing.

Numerous manufacturing difl'iculties were also entailed by the design of the flat type tumbler locks heretofore employed, for the construction of their cylinders necessitated the provision of two cores in each die to form the tumbler receiving slots which had to be pulled in opposite directions. This obviously increased the cost of forming the cylinders.

Hence it is another object of this inven tion to simplify the manufacture and materially reduce the cost of locks of this type.

Another object of this invention resides i in the provision of a lock structure of the character described wherein the assembling of the cylinders may be split up into different operations and permitting assembling by means of automatic machines.

The thin walled sections between the tumblers, of locks of this character heretofore in use, by reason of the fact that their cylinders were formed by die casting, were affected by corrosion, and tended to cause binding after the locks were in service a length of time.

This invention therefore has as another of its objects the provision of a lock of the character described in which the tumbler receiving recesses or guides are all connected Serial No. 504,549.

and form substantially one enlarged chamber in the cylinder so that no thin walled sections are required.

Another object of this invention resides in the construction of the tumblers whereby forming dies of more rugged construction are possible.

And a further object of this invention is to generally simplify and improve the construction of the tumbler locks.

VWith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated two complete examples of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof. and in which:

Figure 1 is a View of a lock cylinder embodying my invention and taken so as to show the top of the tumblers;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken through Figure l on the plane of the line 22 and showing the tumblers retracted by means of a key;-

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrating the bottom of the tumblers;

Figure 4c is a cross sectional view taken through Figure 2 on the plane of the line 44;;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 4 taken through Figure 2 on the plane of the line 55, but without the key;

Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of one of the tumblers; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating a tumbler of slightly modified construction.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views the numeral 7 represents a cylindrical lock cylinder or plug having an enlarged fine the limits of rotation of the cylinder therein.

Projected from the opposite end oft-he cylindrical plug is aneccentric cam 11 to impart movement to whatevenmechanism the lock is employed with, and an annular groove'12 having an entrance opening or slot 14 communicating therewith for retaining the plug in its casing or mountinghead, not shown. Extended inwardly from the front of the cylinder is a key-way 15, the outer end of which is flared outwardly, as at 16, to facilitate the insertion of a proper key 17 and theinner end of which terminates 'ata point spaced from the annular groove 12.

' Between the'enlarged head 8 and theinner end of the key-way and in communication therewith, is a transverse opening or chamber 18-of=-irregular shape and it is noted that the key-way 15 is not centrally located, but is positioned to one side of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and that the chamber or opening 18 extends to the opposite side of the longitudinal axis.

The opening 18- includes a plurality of transverse substantially rectangular slots 19 formed entirely through the plug to slidably receive locking tumblers 20'. At one end of the transverse slots 19' the major portion of the metal between the slots is cut away so that at this side ofthe cylinder, see Figure 1, a continuous opening having a number of opposed; grooves in its'opposite sides is formed, the opposed grooves being the sidesof the slots 19. j V

At the opposite ends of the slots 19 and from a point in line with the adjacentedge of'the key-way, which may be considered its bottom, the metal between the slots is cut away only from apoint in line with the key-wiay to substantially the opposite side wall, so that the remaining portions 21, best shown in Fig ures 3 andt, form a continuation of the bottom of the key-way and provide a rest for the key. I i

The tumblers, see Figure 6,-are formed of substantially flat stock. and have a medial longitudinal reinforcing rib or bulge projecting from each face to provide portions 22 of increasedthick ness, extending throughout their length. At one side of the bulge or enlarged middle portion 22, the metal iscut away, as at 23 to provide a key receiving recess, the position of. which with respect to the length ofithe tumbler controlls the formation of the bit of the key.

Two very important advantages obtained with this construction ofi the tumblersare an exceptionally strong tumbler and a rugged tumbler forming die.

At the sides of the tumblers opposite their cutaway portions 23 are webs 24 which co operate with an abutment 25 formed in the plug in communication with the tumbler receiving chamber, to limit their outward movement as will be later described, and at one end ofeachtumbler is asidewise directed lug 26for apurpose to be later described."

. Thefaces of the tumblers between their longitudinal,enlargements orbulges 22 and their webs 24, are so shaped as tofor'm round bottomed longitudinal grooves 27, and the grooves of adjacent tumblers cooperate to define guides or wells for expansive springs 28. which yieldably urge the tumblers outwardly of the plug.

In assembling the tumblers with the plug, their ends having the sidewise struck lugs 26 are inserted first and the tumblers are inserted from that side of theplug at which the metal'between the tumbler receiving slots 19 is cut away.- The tumblers thus drop down into their respective grooves until the leading end 29oftheir elongated webs 24lstrikes the abutment 25, see Figure 5. i

-Thesprings 28 are then inserted in the wells defined by the adjacent round'bottomed grooves of adjacent tumblers so that. their inner ends rest on top ofthe sidewise directed lugs 26 of the tumblers :which, as best.

illustrated in Figure 3, are so disposedasto be aligned with the lower ends ofthe springs.

Alliofthe springs with the exceptionof the one nearest. the enlarged head 8 of the plug are confined between. adjacent tumblers, and

the saidspringadjacent the enlarged-head is guided bythe cooperation of. thegroove of its tumblerand the adjacent endof theopening. 18 which is formed as at 30, toconform to theshape of the spring.

After the springs have been properly po- L sitioned, pins v31. are secured, in transversely extending recesses 32 in line with and above the ends ofthe springs so as to confine the springs within the plug and afford an abutment between which and the sidewise directed lugsf26 ofthe tumblers they are confined.

The cross. pins 31 may be secured in their respective transverse slots in any. desired manner and in the present instancei'areheld by swedging the material of the plug, as at 33, overthe pins.

All of the tumblers are thus yieldably urgedito project theirends having the sidewise directed lugs 26. outwardly'of' the plug as in Figure 5 and such outward movement of the tumblers islimited by the engagement of the lower end 29 of their elongated webs 24 with the plugabutment 25.-

. It is noted that the enlarged portions22 of the tumblers and their urging springs 28 are all disposed to that side of-the longitudinal axis of the plug opposite the side in which the key-way 15 is formed'so that the cut away portions 23 of the tumblers are serrated edge of the key when inserted in the slot thus engages the upper edges 34 of the cut away portions 23 and lifts each tumbler against th action of its urging spring to retract the same within the periphery of the plug.

The tumbler shown in Figure 7 is substantially similar to that described and shown in Figure 6, except that the abutment with which the spring engages is formed by striking a medial portion of the tumbler outwardly to one side as at 26'.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, that the strength of a tumbler lock constructed in accordance with my invention is considerably increased without in any way adding to its external dimensions. The tumblers, particularly, are stronger, their increased rigidly being obtained principally from the medial longitudinal enlargement or bulge which serves as av stiffening rib and by reason of the fact their construction permits them to be formed of heavier material. lhe increased thickness of the tumblers also affords greater contact area with the mounting member abutments.

It is also apparent that an appreciable saving may be effected in manufacture of locks embodying this invention for the tumbler forming dies may be of more rugged construction than heretofore possible, which obviously lengthens their useful life, and the design of the opening in the plug in which the tumblers are received being such as to permit the same to be formed by a single core which may be pulled in one direction permits a. greater number of molds in a single cylinder forming die. Assembling of the tumblers wi h the cylinder is also greatly facilitated. This operation can be split up into a tumbler assembling and spring assembling operation performed by different operators' or if desired the assembling may be done by automatic machines.

The fact that the opening in the cylinder or plug has no thin walled sections is also an important advantage, in that binding of the tumblers due to corrosion is entirely 0bviated.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a lock cyl nder of the character described, a plurality of spaced locking tumblers mounted for movement transverse to the axis of the lock cylinder, a plura ity of supports fixedly mounted in said lock cylinder intermediate said tumblers and expansive springs seated on said supports and disposed between adjacent tumblers for yieldably urgin the same to outermost position.

2. In a lock cylinder of the character described. a plurality of spaced locking tumblers mounted for movement transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder, a plurality of supports fixedly mounted in said loch cylinder intermediate said tumblers, yieldable means seated on said supports and normally urging the tumblers to outermost position, and means on said tumblers providing guides for the yieldable urging means.

3. In. a lock cylinder having a key-way, tumblers slidably disposed in the lock cylinder with one side portion thereof in alignment with the key-way, said side portions of the tumblers in alignment with the key-way being medially cut away to provide key receiving recesses, and reinforcing means extending longitudinally on the tumblers be tween the key receiving recesses and the opposite sides thereof.

4. In a lock cylinder having a key-way, tumblers movably mounted in the cylinder with side portions thereof in alignment with the key-way, said tumbler side portions aligned with the key-way being medially cut away to provide key receiving recesses and end portions of the full width of the tumblers, and reinforcing beads formed on opposite faces of each of the tumblers and extending longitudinally throughout the length of the tumblers to strengthen the connection between the end portions thereof.

5. A tumbler for locks comprising a substantially fiat member having a key receiving recess at one side of its longitudinal axis, and a portion of enlarged thickness extending longitudinally throughout the length of the tumbler to increase the rigidity thereof.

6. In a lock cylinder, locking tumblers transversely movable in the cylinder, means for yieldably urging the tumblers in one direction, reinforcing ribs formed on opposite faces of the tumblers, and means whereby the reinforcing ribs of adjacent tumblers cooperate to hold the yieldable urging means.

7. In a lock cylinder having a key-way and an enlarged opening in communication with the key-way, a plurality of spaced tumblers movably mounted in said opening, springs for yieldably urging the tumblers in one direction, said springs being disposed between adjacent tumblers and within the enlarged opening, and means on the tumblers for holding the springs in position.

8. In a lock cylinder having a key-way and an enlarged opening in commiilnication with the key-way, tumblers movably mounted in said opening, springs for yieldably urging the tumblers in one direction, said springs being disposed between adjacent tumblers and within the enlarged opening, and means on the tumblers for holding the springs in position, said last mentioned means serving to strengthen the tumblers.

9. In a lock cylinder having a transverse opening provided with opposed guide-ways, tumblers having their side edges received in side guide Ways, said tumblers being inserted into the. opening from oneend thereof,.means for limiting movement of the tumblers in their direction vof insertion, spring means abutting portions of the tumblers for yieldablyrurging the same in said direction, and means for holding the spring means against displacement and whereby the tumblers are .retained in the cylinder. f I

10. In a lock cylinder having an enlarged transverse opening provided with opposed tumbler receiving'guide-ways', tumblers slidably mounted in said guide-ways, means for limiting the movement ofthe tumblers in one direction, abutments on the tumblers proj ected laterally therefrom, abutments carried by the cylinder between the tumblers, and spring means confined betweensaid abutments for yielda-bly urging the tumblers to their said limits of movement. a

' 11. In a lock cylinder having a transverse opening provided with opposed tumbler receiving guideways, tumblers disposed in said opening and guided for movement therein by the guide-way, means for limiting outward movement of the tumblers in one direction, spring means for yieldably urging the tumblers in said direction, and cooperating abutmen-ts carried by the tumblers and the cylinder and disposed between adjacent tumblers and between which the spring means are confined.

12. A die cast lock cylinder having a transverse tumbler receiving chamber entirely open at one end and having opposed guideways in its side Walls, tumblers having their side edges slidably received in said guideways and inserted from'said entirely open end, means for preventing movement of the tumblers out of the other end of said chamber, means for yieldably urging the tumblers toward said other end of the chamber, andv means for maintaining the within said chamber.

v13. In a lock cylinder having a transverse tumbler receiving chamber, spaced tumblers slidably mounted in the chamber, means limiting movement of the tumblers out of the chamber in one direction, lugs carried by the tumblers and directed laterally from one face thereof, springs for the tumblers and engaging their lugs, and pin extending across the tumbler receiving chamber between the tumblers, between which and the lugs the springs are confined and whereby the tumblers are held against detchament from the cylinder.

14:. In a lock cylinder having a transverse tumbler receiving opening, spaced tumblers movably mounted in said transverse opening, springs for yieldably urging the tumblers in one direction, said springs being disposed between adjacent tumblers, and lugs struck from the sides of the tumblers and extended into the space therebetween to provide rests urging means for the springs.

.1 15.. A tumbler'for locks formed of substantiallyflat'stock and provided with reinforcing ribs comprisinga medial'longitu-dinally extending portion of increased thickness to reinforce the same.

16. A tumbler for looks comprising a substantially fiat member having a portion cut away to provide a key receiving recess, said recess dividing the member into intermediate and end sections, and a reinforcing rib comprising a portion of increased thickness extending longitudinally to connect the end sections.

' 17. In a lock, a plurality of spaced tumblers slidably guided at their edges in face to 'face 580 relation, means for moving the tumblers, and means for guldmg said moving means including grooves in the opposed faces of the tumblers.

nal key-way and a transverse tumbler receiving chamber, tumblers guided for movement in the transverse chamber, portions of the tumblers being cut away to form a continua tion of the key-way, and springs for moving the. tumblers, said springs being mounted in the chamberbetween the tumblers and beside the key-way. V Y

21. In a lock cylinder, tumblers therein gulded for movement crosswise of the cylinder, the cylinder and tumblers being recessed to provide a longitudinal key slot through the cylinder and tumblers, the larger transverse cross sectional dimension of said slot extending in the direction of movement of the tumblers, abutments on the tumblers,

abutments carried by the cylinder between the tumblers, and springs located between the tumblers and beside the key slot, and confined between said tumblers and cylinder carried abutments for pressing the tumblers in one direction.

22. In a lock cylinder adapted to be produced by casting and having a transverse tumbler chamber therein, tumblers mounted in said chamber, said tumblers being arranged to provide a key passage along oneside of the tumbler receiving chamber, and a ledge within the chamber formed as an integral partof the cylinder and projecting into the chamber from said side thereof 'for the full width of the key passage toprovide a bottom for said passage and a support for a key insert-able therein.

23. In a die cast lock cylinder having a transverse tumbler receiving chamber, a

plurality of tumblers within the chamber, said chamber being slightly narrower than the width of the tumblers and the tumblers being retained in proper spaced relation by having their opposite edges slidable in grooves formed in the sides of the chamber, the tumblers being cut away at one side to cooperate with the adjacent side of the cham her to provide a key passage at one side of the tumbler receiving chamber, and a ledge within the tumbler receiving chamber comprising a plurality of projections extending into the chamber from said side thereof and between the tumblers for the full width of the key passage to provide a support for a key insertable into the chamber to actuate the tumblers.

24:. In a die cast lock cylinder having a transverse tumbler receiving chamber, the opposite side walls of which are provided 25 with channels to form guideways for tumblers, tumblers in said chamber having their side edges slidably engaged in said channels, said tumblers having key openings, opening to one side thereof to cooperate with the adjacent side wall of the tumbler receiving chamber to form a key passage, and projections extended from said side walls of the chamber between the tumblers with certain of their surfaces aligned to form a bottom for the key passage and support for a key inserted into said key passage.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto alfixed my signature.

EDWARD N. J ACOBI. 4O 

